NASET News Alert

Tylenol Overdose Can Be Deadly for a Child

June 15, 2012

Doctors, pharmacists urged to educate parents about possible hazards. Overdoses of the pain and fever drug acetaminophen (brand name Tylenol) are a leading cause of acute liver failure in children, and more public education is needed to warn parents and others of this danger, experts say.

Acetaminophen is a widely available over-the-counter medication, but repeated doses above the recommended level, or overdoses due to errors or intentional consumption, can lead to acute liver failure and even death in children, according to Dr. Rod Lim, of the Children's Hospital at the London Health Sciences Center in Ontario, Canada, and colleagues. To read more - Click here